Jason's Competition Fund
Donation protected
Howdy! My name is Jason Mathis and I am a senior Engineering Technology major at Texas A&M University. I am the current Safety Officer for the Texas A&M Pistol Team. Our team shoots International Olympic style bull’s eye pistol events with .22 caliber pistols and .177 caliber air pistols.
When I was a junior in high school I got one of my first jobs with Academy Sports and Outdoors in the fishing and hunting department. Ialso started hunting with my dad and uncle and learned the importance of firearm safety. These two factors introduced me to shooting and helped me develop a passion for shooting sports. When I came to A&M I had no idea there was a Pistol Team, but as soon as I learned about it I was determined to go to their semester open shoot and try outs. The first semester I tried to make the team I did not shoot the qualifying score and failed to receive an invite. This did not dissuade me though, I came back the next semester and made the team.
My first year on the team I put forth a lot of time and effort and saw significant and rapid improvements. I even managed to secure the fourth and final spot on the team that was sent to the 2013 NRA Intercollegiate National Championship in Fort Benning, Georgia. This competition helped me see what it took to be able to compete with the best in the nation and pushed me to set my sights higher. The next year I worked even harder and saw my scores rise until I was one of the top shooters on the team. I qualified with the team again for the 2014 National Championship and saw some success that year in Fort Benning when I advanced to finals in our Free Pistol Event and got 8th place. I also managed to place in the top 20 in two other events.
This past year I continued to work and train with the goal of medaling at the 2015 National Championship. My scores had improved enough to qualify me individually as well as with the team for the three main events, Standard, Free and Air, making me eligible for an aggregate ranking. At the 2015 National Championship all my hard work finally paid off when I shot a tying score for first place in Standard Pistol, and then won the shoot off to claim the National Championship. I also shot a personal best in free pistol securing 5th place, and my aggregate score for Standard, Free, and Air placed me 3rd over all.
My scores and placing at this competition earned me an invitation to attend the World University Games in South Korea this coming July. There are only 11 pistol shooters that were selected to attend this match to represent the USA. This is the highest level of competition at the collegiate level and is the second largest World Games, beaten only by the Olympic Games. At this competition I will be shooting Standard Pistol and men's Rapid Fire Pistol.
Up until now, I have been using team equipment, ammo, and funds. Since I will be graduating in May these resources will no longer be available to me. This means I need to purchase my own equipment and fund my own way to this match. My own equipment, travel case and other necessary items will cost around $3,000. My trip to Korea will cost close to $3,000 for airfare, lodging, and event fees.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope that you will be able to help me travel to Korea to represent the USA and Texas A&M in the World University Games. Donations are deeply appreciated no matter how big or small. If you are unable to donate, please share my story with others. I want to help spread shooting sports and be an encouragement to shooters everywhere.
When I was a junior in high school I got one of my first jobs with Academy Sports and Outdoors in the fishing and hunting department. Ialso started hunting with my dad and uncle and learned the importance of firearm safety. These two factors introduced me to shooting and helped me develop a passion for shooting sports. When I came to A&M I had no idea there was a Pistol Team, but as soon as I learned about it I was determined to go to their semester open shoot and try outs. The first semester I tried to make the team I did not shoot the qualifying score and failed to receive an invite. This did not dissuade me though, I came back the next semester and made the team.
My first year on the team I put forth a lot of time and effort and saw significant and rapid improvements. I even managed to secure the fourth and final spot on the team that was sent to the 2013 NRA Intercollegiate National Championship in Fort Benning, Georgia. This competition helped me see what it took to be able to compete with the best in the nation and pushed me to set my sights higher. The next year I worked even harder and saw my scores rise until I was one of the top shooters on the team. I qualified with the team again for the 2014 National Championship and saw some success that year in Fort Benning when I advanced to finals in our Free Pistol Event and got 8th place. I also managed to place in the top 20 in two other events.
This past year I continued to work and train with the goal of medaling at the 2015 National Championship. My scores had improved enough to qualify me individually as well as with the team for the three main events, Standard, Free and Air, making me eligible for an aggregate ranking. At the 2015 National Championship all my hard work finally paid off when I shot a tying score for first place in Standard Pistol, and then won the shoot off to claim the National Championship. I also shot a personal best in free pistol securing 5th place, and my aggregate score for Standard, Free, and Air placed me 3rd over all.
My scores and placing at this competition earned me an invitation to attend the World University Games in South Korea this coming July. There are only 11 pistol shooters that were selected to attend this match to represent the USA. This is the highest level of competition at the collegiate level and is the second largest World Games, beaten only by the Olympic Games. At this competition I will be shooting Standard Pistol and men's Rapid Fire Pistol.
Up until now, I have been using team equipment, ammo, and funds. Since I will be graduating in May these resources will no longer be available to me. This means I need to purchase my own equipment and fund my own way to this match. My own equipment, travel case and other necessary items will cost around $3,000. My trip to Korea will cost close to $3,000 for airfare, lodging, and event fees.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope that you will be able to help me travel to Korea to represent the USA and Texas A&M in the World University Games. Donations are deeply appreciated no matter how big or small. If you are unable to donate, please share my story with others. I want to help spread shooting sports and be an encouragement to shooters everywhere.
Organizer
Jason Mathis
Organizer
La Porte, TX